Equipped vehicle



Sept. 14, 1943. G. E. REED EQUIPPED VEHICLE Filed Dec. 9, 1940 Iii-E.

R D m m. E s G M E G ATTOENEK Patented Sept. 14, 1943 UNITED V STATES PATENT OFFICE a 1,329,419" I Y V, 1 EQUIPPEnvEHIoLn I GeorgeERecd, Oakland, Calif, l Application December 9, 1940, Serial No. 369,160 (o1.29e '2s) k I 10 Claims.

This invention relatesfto equipped vehicles, and more particularly to vehicles which are equipped for camping and hunting'trips or other analogous uses where it is desired to have both sleeping and cooking facilities in connection with a vehicle trip. I I v Y F The most usual form of'transportation at the present time being by motor-driven vehicle, the disclosure of the invention herein is made with relation to an automobile vehicle having a truck ty e ofenclosed body;

Amon the objects of the invention are to provide a standardized vehicle which serves for transportation, sleeping accommodations while transit as well as while stationary, and cooking accommodations including shelter therefor when at stopping places. A further object is to provide a camping or cruising vehicle in which auxil iary'cooking accommodations are slidable into the vehicle body during transit, but which may be'supp-orted at an outwardly extended position at any time when it is desired to use such cooking facilities at a destination orstopping place. A 'further'objec't is to provide in a vehicle'so equipped, a readily opened and closable curtain as a weather shield. V 1

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which will be more apparent as this decription proceeds, the invention is exemplified in one form in the novel construction and c'om bination 'of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and details of construction of the apparatus may be' resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spiritor'sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

To.more clearly comprehend the invention, reference is directed to theaccompanying drawing whereinp,

Fig. lfisa longitudinalvertical section of rear portion of the vehicle. 7 I i Fig.2.-is-;;a;;vertical perspectiveofrear end of the vehicle. Y

Fig. 3 is a perspective ,view of rear portion of the vehicle with curtains in'extended position;

Iteferring to the several views of the drawing,

in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, I0 indicates generally a stand-.

'ard enclosed vehicle body mounted on a chassis H, comprising the usual supporting frame,

springs and wheels. 1 On the chassis is-mounted aiioor I2 and an enclosedsuperstructure comprising 'a, top l3 and side walls [4, the top. and sides having .suitable braces or supports l5. At the. forward portion, of .{the enclosed body. I is .a driyer.s compartment vi 6. having entrance-exit doors 1| Land drivers seatglt; the lattenpreferably having its back-rest Iii-hinged at20 so as to be tiltable forwardly. The usual well-known positioning of the seat relative to the door may be conveniently employed so that when the door is open and the back rest I9 is tilted forwardly the space to the rear of the seat is accessible to the door when the door is opened The rear end of the body! is closable, preferably by a pair of doors ZIhingedly mounted vertically'in a well-known manner, though,-if desired, a single door may be employed substantially of the width of the opening at therear end of the body. Such doors of either type are well-known and it is not believed necessary to describe them in further detail, other than to say that they may be swung bn hinges to selectively open or close the rear ,end of the vehicle.

Intermediate the floor [2 and top l3 and transversely of the body is a suitable supporting means or platform 22 which extends longitudinally from adjacent the backrest l9 to substantially the 'opposite end of the vehicle body, preferably terminating inrelatively short spaced relationship to the rear doors 2| when they are in closed position. Platform 22 is' supported'by thwarts or cross pieces 23 which are supported at their respective opposite ends on the vehicle body braces I5. It is to be understood'that the support or platform 22- is not necessarily a solid plane, but may be s1atted,or may comprise merely aseries' of transverse"thwarts.- The platform 22 serves to divide the vertical height or the body Ill into anuppercompa'rtment anda lower comp'artment. In the upper compartment, resting on the supporting means 22, is a bed comprising springs 24 upon which rests a mattress 25.

It ispreferred to provide an interior trans-.- verse panel' 26 at the rear end portion of the upper compartment so thatthe bed may be ly or inwardly to provide ventilation for the uppercompartment, any suitable. well-known meansv being employed for maintaining ,it at either an outward or inward position, such as i an ordinary strap-hinge oi; the type employed to hold up the-lid of a-trunln The panel 26 may, if desired, carry auxiliary conveniences such as an electric light 29 or electric clock, radio or the like, ,thesebeing' merely selective il1ustrative accessories. .It ispreferred that panel 26: be slightly. spaced'from th'e rear door sub- 30', drop curtains 32 maybe slldably mounted by means of curtain rings 33. On the upper arm 30* may likewise be mounted a top cover cur-' tain 34. It is contemplated that there will be one of these bifurcated bar elements at each side of the vehicle, one having its pl'votalfmounting slightly offset inwardly from the other so that the respective bars 30 may be folded inwardly relativeto the vehicle body and overlie each other iii-close proximity transversely within the rear end of the vehicle body and permit the rear doors 2! to be closed thereover. The cover curtain 34 is attached .tothe upper bar 30*,of eachqbar'assemblyso that when the bars are swung-outwardly the cover curtain automatically unfolds and stretches itself into an extended covering at the rear end'of the vehicle; theside curtains are reiativelyseparate, one being suspended on the lower barN -on each of the bar assemblies so that. there is an extended depending curtainat each side of the. vehicle body cooperating with the cover curtain to provide an openshielded spacexrearwardly of: the vehicle. When the two bars 30 are folded inwardly and the rear doors 2| are in closed position, the top curtain 34= and side curtains 32 may be folded and: pushed through the panel 26' by swinging the latter inwardly; and thus repose upon the mattress 25 and be completely out of the way, care being. taken to push them to one sideon their supporting rings so: as not .to obscure the rear view of the driver through the sight glass 24 of the rear door.

At the rear of the vehicle; in the lower com partment' adjacent the floor, means areprovided for reciprocally supporting suitable auxiliary equipment which may be necessary, or-desirable forum on trips such as camping, hunting, engineering surveys, and the like. In present exemplification, such reciprocal means comprisesatrack mounted upon thefioor l2 and in this instance consists of two opposingly spaced strips of channel iron 35 longitudinally of the vehicle body andwhich are mounted so as to rest on one of the side. walls of the channel so that the grooves or channels are relatively opposed longitudinally of the vehicle body. Mounted in sliding relationship within the opposed grooves or channels isa slidemember frame 31', the sliding of which, with relation to the channels of the channel iron, may be facilitated by anti-friction rollers 38'. Uponthoextendable rearward end of frame 37may be mounted any suitable assembly of accessories, those men.- tioned herein being merely illustrative examples and designated refrigerator 39, acompartment 4 I for dishes and pans, ata'ble 4 2' having a drawer 43. Like accessorieasuch as a stove; oven, wash basin, etc., are suggested as other suitable facilities which rnay be employed alternatively or additionally. The accessories are fixedly secured to the rear extendable end-of frame 31 by any suitable means conventionally illustrated as bracket 31a so that the accessories slide, in and out in unison with the frame 3!, and are fixedly securedv against inadvertent movement both when they are reciprocated inwardly and outwardly and also intranslt when they are at inward position upon the frame within the vehicle body. As shown in dotted lines of Fig. 1, the

frame 31 may slide inwardly into the lower comdoors may be snugly closed, which is their normal position while the vehicle is in transit.

Usuallythe number, type and size of such auxiliary equipment can 'be accommodated on the slidable frame 31 without completely exhausting the space in the lower body compartment. It is therefore desirable to provide a transverse closing panel 44 adjacent the forward end of the lower compartment and thus segregate a separate compartment which be employed for storageof clothes, boxes of food, and like. It will. be noted that the reeipnocable fmm fl is; of greater length than the auxiliary facilities which are mounted at the outer end thereof, thus providing an inner portion of said frame toremam asasupport within the channel of the track 36 whenv the auxiliary facilities are extended into. outward. usable posit-ion, Therefore, when the said facilities are to their closed position, indicated in dotted.- iines in Fig. 1, space must; be provided to accommodate-the extending inner end of the frame 31. This latter necessity may be accommodated stepping the lower shelf of. the forward compartment 43 from the floor I2 so: that the channel irons 36 may extend beneath said auxiliary compartment 45. and thus also provide an elevated steprearwardly of seat I! whenebyentry and exit to the upper sleeping compartment may be facilitated when the backrest wet the seat is tilted forwardly. Other suitable facilities may also be provided, such as a clothes hammock 4i suspended in the upper compartment upon suitable hooks on the upright supports it. While it is not anessentialfeature, itis preferred that there be a. relatively narrow vertrcal: space indicated." between, the rear end of the upper and lower compartments and the doors 2t when thelatter are closed,v so as to pr'ovide a verticalchamber of relatively large surface area and shallow depth. in. which the curtains 32-, 34- may be folded inv case: they are: wet from inclement weather when: it. would: notbe advisable to put them upon the bed: in the upper compartment; or upon occasbn it ha be desirable to employ the bed" sleeping accommodations while the curtains are folded and: the door is closed; such as when a long, continuous trip is being made, and the parties on the trip take turns in alternatively driving and sleeping. Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a vehicle having a chassis. a body mounted on the chassis and having a. top and floor, said body having an outwardly opening vertically hinged rear door provided with a rear sight window, a transverse platform longitudinally within said body intermediate the. top" and floor providing an upper comportmentand alower compartment, said upper compartment having a rear closure member independent at said rear door and havinga sight window therein in overlying: alignment'witn the sight window of' the rear door when the rear door is closed; and reciproca'bly mounted support means at the lower partof' the lower compartment; forimounb mg thereon of suitable auxiliary equipment, said support means being adapted to nonnaify *lia r Within the lbwer comment or the venue body and being selectively extendible rearward ly beyond the confines of the vehicle'bodvsaid support means being of such length that when the auxiliary equipment thereon is in extended position beyond the confines of the vehicle body, there is an additional length of the *support means engaged within the vehicle body to sup: port the extended portion and'the equipmentthereon.

2. Ina vehicle having achassis, a body mounted on the chassis'and having atop and floor and having at its forward portion a drivers com partment with' a transverse seat having ahing'ed backrest foldable forwardly, s'aidbody having an outwardly opening vertically hinged rear door,

a transverse platform longitudinally within said" body intermediate the top and floorproviding an: upper compartment and alower compartment, said upper compartment having a rear closure member independent of said rear door, reciprocably mounted support means at the lower part of the lower compartment for mounting thereon of suitable auxiliary equipment, said support mea'ns being adapted to normally lie within thelower' compartment of the vehiclebody and being selectively extendible rearwardly beyond the -con-' fines of the vehicle body, and a panel transversely mounted adjacent theforward end of the 1 w-- er compartment providing a lower sub-compartment spaced from the floor to receive thereunder the forward end of the reciprocable support means, said sub-compartment being accessible by forwardly tilting the hinged'backrest of; the transverse seat of the drivers compartment, said support means being of "such length that when the auxiliary equipment thereon is'in extended position beyond the confines of the vehicle body; there is an additional length of the support means engaged within the vehicl body to support the extended portion and the equipment thereon. i w

3. In a vehicle having a chassis, -a body mounted on the chassis and having-1 a top and floor, said body having an outwardly opening vertically hinged rear door provided with a'rear sightwindow, a transverse platform longitudinally-within said body intermediate the top and floor provid- 8 n pper compartment and a lower compart' ment, said upper compartmenthaving a rear closure member independentof said rear door and hingedly mounted to swing both inwardly and outwardly, said closure having'a transpar: ent sight window in overlying alignmentwith the sight window of the door when the rear door-isclosed, a longitudinal trackin 'th'ejlower compartment adjacent the floor, and a slide member support means longitudinally" slidable onysaid track and adapted for supporting suitable aux iliary equipment, said support meansbeing of such length that when the auxiliary-equipment thereon is in extended position beyond the confines of the vehicle body, there is an additional length of the support means engaged ,within' the vehicle body to support the extended portion and the equipment thereon. j I

4. Ina vehicle having a chassis, a body mounted on the chassis and having a top and fi-oor,'

said body having an outwardly opening verti'cal 1y hinged rear door provided with a rear "sight window, a transverse platform longitudinally within said body intermediate the'top and floor providing an upper compartment and'a lower compartment, said upper compartment having a rear closure member independent of said rear door and hingedly mounted to swing both inwar'dly and"outw ar'dly, said closure having a transparentsight window inoverlying alignment with the sight window 01 the door when the rear door {is closed, reciprocably mounted support means at the lower part of the lower compartment for mountin thereon of suitable auxiliary equipment, said f support means being adapted to normally lie within the lower compartment of the vehicle body andbeing selectively extendible rearwardly beyond the confines of thevehi'cle body, and a bar unit comprising'a pair of substantially parallel bar members, one of said units being pivotally mounted atthe upper 'rear por- ,tionfof each side 'of 'said vehicle body and disposed in overlying relation transversely of' an'd substantially parallel to the iloor of the vehicle body and adapted for swinging outwardly for supporting curtains thereon, said support means beingwof such-length that when the auxiliary equipmentthereonis in extended position'beyond theconfines of the vehicle body, there is an additional length of the support means engaged within the vehicle :body 'to support the extended portion and the equipment thereon.

5, In avehicle having a chassis'a body-rnounted on the chassis' and having a top and floor' and havin'g'at itsforward portion a driver's compartrnent with a transverse seat having a hinged backrestioldable forwar'dly, "said body having an outwardly openihg'fivertically hinged rear door, a transverse platform including a bed' spring longitudinally within' sai'd body intermediate the top andffloor providing an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said'upper compartmerit having a rear closure member indep'ende entof said rear door, reciprooably mounted sup- Port means 'atthe'jlower part of the-lower com partment-for mounting thereon of suitable auxiliary equipment, said support means being,

adapted to normally lie within the lower comertine t or" the-vehiclebody enu being-fselec tively extendible rearwardlybeyond the confines;

or thevehicle body,'a panel transversely mounted adjacent theforward end of the lowerjcompartf ment providing a lower --sub-compa;rtrnent spaced from thefioor' to receive thereunder the forward end ofthe reciprocable support means,"said subcompartment being accessible by 'forwardlytilting the hinged' backrest of the transverse seat ofthe drivers compartment, and a bar pivotally mounted 'atthe upper rear portion of said vehicle body and adapted for swinging outwardly for supporting curtains thereon, said support meansbeing oi "1'su'c'h' length'that when the auxiliary equipment thereon ism extended position beyond" the" confines of the vehicle bQGY thEIC is an additionar'length of the support means engaged withinthe vehicle body to support the extended portion and the equipment'the'reon.

*6. In avehicle having a chassis, a bodyfmounted on the chassis having closed sides, a topfand door, said bodyhaving an outwardly" opening vertically hingedrear door provided with a rear sight windowya transverse platform longitudinally within said body intermediate the top and fioor andl'adaptedjfor supporting a bed thereon, said-platform dividing theinterior of said body into anjupper and a lower compartment, the upper oi said compartment havinga rear closure independent of the rear door and provided with a sight openingjn overlying alignment with the sight wi'ndow of ,the rear door when therear door, is closed, and a"reciprocablyimounted supportmeans at the lowerpa'rtcf the lower coinpartment for mounting thereon of suitable aux-e li r qu pment; sai su por.t eans adaptedvtono me ly/ iewl ini the lower om: par meat. of 6 1 311 9: en mlz oinsg 551.96. ive y e n le" arwardly'bcy dtthe co fines f hbcleb ilyi a su port aon zbeins of;

suohe lengthq hot when! the} auxiliar equipment providing anupper compartmentariq a lesion.

compartment; saidupper compartment; having; a rear closure memborindependent q i. aidrreer, door andhaving a sight window thereininpover lying alignment with: thersight window of; the rear, door whenthe rear door is :Q1Qi d, a longi.

tudinal track inthe lowen'compartment; adjacent;

the floor, a slide membersuplgorhmeflnslpngitudinally slidable on; saidtrack; and dap e i en supporting suitable ausiliar-ywequipment. and, a

bar pivotally mounted at the upperrear; portion of eachside of said vehicle; and disposm; inv overlying relation; transver ely-on su atomi tially parallel-to the-floor of: thevehicle -bodytend: adapted for swinging; outwardly :fQiffl-SUDQQIQHE curtains thereon, said support; nrieam being of.- Such length that twhen the auxiliaryequipment thereon is in extended posi ion eyond; n-r fines of the vehicle. body, there i an additional length of the support means engpged within; the e ibodto support theex /ended n miomand the equipment thereon, 1- n 8, .In a. vehicle having achassis abody mount, ed: on the; chassis and having-a ton-and door; and having l. at its forwardr portion a; drivensi coma partment with a. transverse seat having ahinged, backrest foldable forwardly,- said body: havinman outwardly opening-vertically hinged}; 6510.

a transverse platform including a bed springdon gitudinallyt within said body intermediate would floor P o i an set com artment and a lower compartment, said-1 uppenc rnparte ment having; a rear closure-member independent of, said rear door-,a longitudinal trackin thelo wg er compartment, adjacent the- 1100:, a; slid mem,

her support meanslongitudinally slidable onsaidk track and adaptedfor suppo t-ing uitable aux? iliary equipment; and a panel transversely mount ed adjacent the forwardend of the lower, Kim.- partment providing alower sub-compartment spaced from thefioor to receiv thereunder the forward. end of thereciprocable-support means,

- said sub-compartment being accessible by forwardly tiltingthe hingedibackrest of; the trans, verse seat of the drivers compartment, said sup: port means beingv of such length that whenrtheauxiliary equipment thereonis inextended poa sitiont beyond. the confines flthe vehicle,-

there, is an additional length of" the; support means eng ed within the, vehicle body to, 5119-. port the extended portionv and. the, eguipment thereon. v, I

"9'. In a vehicle having a chassis, a1 body mounta. ed'on the chassis and having aItop'and floor, said body having an outwardly. opening; vertically hingedrear door provided with a rear. sight win; dow, a transverse platform longitudinally. within ing a sight window therein in overlying alignment body intermedia e the top andpfloo 929w vidina; an: upper compartment and a lower com partment; said supper compartment. havinsa rear, closure; member lndependentof said rear, doo and: having a sight window therein in, overlying, alignment with thesight window of the rear door when therear door is closedia longitudinal tragic in; the lower ncompartmcnt adjacent the flood aslide member support means longitudinally slidable; on said track and adapted for supportin suitable auxiliary equipment, ,one andportion of said slide memberbeing adapted; for

rearwardlyt outward beyond: the chassis. ironic, while the opposite end portion of tho slide meme ber engages. thetracl: to support. the rearwardly extended, portion, and a at the upper rear portion of each side of saidye hicle body and disposed; in overlying relatioii transversely of and substantially parallolg tothe floor of the vehicle body and adaptedtforrswinevmg outwardly iorsupportingcurtains thereomsaid support means being of' such length thattwhsn the auxiliaryequipment thereon ls-in; extended position beyondjthe confines of the vehicle body, there is an additional length of the support means engagedr within I the vehicle; body to suprport the, extended portion and -the equipmentthereon. I

10. In a vehicle: having: a chassis, a

mounted on: the chassis and having-v a, top and floor and havingat its forward portiona, driv ers compartment with a transverse seat having a hinged backrest foldabi forwardln said body; having an outwardly opening vertically hinged rear door provided witha rear sight window, a transverse platform. longitudinally wlthinysaid bodyintermediatethe-top and floor -providing an upper compartmentzand a lower compartment;

said upper compartment having a rear closure member-independent otsaid rear door and hay,-

with the sight window of the rear door, when the rear door is closed: a; longitudinal, track in the lower compartment adjacent the floor, asslido member supp rt, means longitudinally 'slldtibla on, said track and adapted'fpr suppo -ting suitahle auxiliary. equipment; one endportion of said slide member being adapted for sliding rearward, 1yv outward: beyond the chassis frame, nwhilethe opposite end portion of the slidemcmb ren gages the trackto supportthe rearwardly ex-i tended portion, a-panel transversely-mounted ad-v' jacent the forward endof theilower compact ment providing a lower subrcompartmentspaced frmmthefioor to receive thereunder, the forwardv end of thereciprocable-support means, said sub. compartment being-accessible by forward yl s; ing the hingedibackrest oi the transverseseat of the drivers compartment, and a barcompris in-g relatively spaced substantially paralieimsmibers pi otally mounted at the upper rear portion of each side of saidvehicl body and disposed in overlying relation transversely of and substan tially Parallel iothe floor of the vehicle body. andad pted for swinging outwardlyton'suppoi'ting bar n cwll mquntpd 

